Who Is Mariska Hargitay’s Mother

Mariska Hargitay is the daughter of Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay, two celebrities of the 1950s and 1960s. She is an American actress, activist, and producer best known for her long-running role as Detective Olivia Benson on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Jayne Mansfield was an iconic Hollywood actress and sex symbol of the late 1950s and ’60s. After marrying Italian bodybuilder-turned-actor Mickey Hargitay, the couple welcomed their first child, Mariska, on January 23, 1964. After divorcing in 1964, Jayne remained a supportive and loving mother who was committed to giving Mariska and her siblings, Zoltán and Antonio, the best.

Mariska’s father, Mickey Hargitay, is a former bodybuilder who won Mr. Universe in 1955. After his marriage to Jayne Mansfield, he made appearances in films such as The LEECH Woman and various television series before becoming a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Mariska has spoken fondly of her parents’s legacy, saying that "my mom was a beautiful woman with a huge heart. She was a trailblazer, a free-thinker, a truth-seeker, and ahead of her time. My dad is an incredible man who lives with a deep and unshakable faith, optimism and hope."

In 2006, Mariska founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence heal, reclaim and re-vision their world. The organization was inspired in part by her mother who, despite her own personal struggles, was an advocate for women’s issues and mental health.

Mariska said, "I have my mother’s wild tenacity and sense of adventure. She was fearless, so I think she opened a door inside of me that has never closed, and I’m deeply grateful for that."